Easier Reporting: Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 Gains on GP with Quick Query

Last month I was reviewing a client invoice that I was sure had a rate that was too high. I was wrong. The rate was to go down once the prepaid hours were renewed but I was not aware of this. And I was well aware that investigating further could get complicated, and that the tools I had at hand would determine how I proceeded with my investigation.

At most professional services firms, a project can set its rate based on many different factors.  Since my firm implements both Microsoft Dynamics GP and SL solutions, I've seen first-hand the unique challenges and solutions for dealing with project accounting in each system.

When setting up rates in Microsoft Dynamics SL, the rate can relate to a combination of factors including project, task, labor class, individual, client or shift.  And the rate can be set up in a linear way so that the first rate it finds, in the order you define, is the rate that gets used.

Since we use Dynamics SL internally at Boyer, simply "looking up the rate" in a table was not an option. I would have had to look at multiple tables and screens. When I asked Tim Jones, our director of technical services, about it he suggested that we use SL's Quick Query option to make it easier to find the right rate. Dynamics SL has incredible flexibility when it comes to pricing projects.

Once Tim set this up for me, it was quite easy to ensure the rate was correct. And it did not take him long to create.

As ...